press release 2 q02 tele nordeste celular en

www.timnordeste.com.br 1

Contacts: Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. Walmir Urbano Kesseli 55.81.3216.2591 Fabíola Almeida 55.81.3216.2594 [email protected] Polyana Maciel 55.81.3216.2593 [email protected] Leonardo Wanderley 55.81.3216.2813 [email protected]

TELE NORDESTE CELULAR PARTICIPAÇÕES S.A. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER 2002 RESULTS

Recife, Brazil (August 5, 2002) – Tele Nordeste Celular Participações S.A. (NYSE: TND, BOVESPA: TNEP3, TNEP4) (“Tele Nordeste Celular” or “the Company”), the holding company controlling the operating companies serving Band A cellular telecommunication clients in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Alagoas, under the TIM brand name, announced today its results for the second quarter of 2002 in accordance with Brazilian GAAP. = Market Share at 64% - stable since June 2000; = Growth through corporate clients; = Tight cost controls and reduction in expenses; = EBITDA reached R$106.7 million; margin of 48.8% for the quarter; = Growth in net income and strengthening cash flow.


Operational Highlights In terms of number of access, the Company estimates that its market share at the end of the second quarter of 2002 was 64%. The Penetration rate in the region at the end of June 2002 was estimated in 10.3%, compared to the Penetration rate in Brasil of approximately 17.9% (30.4 million lines). In June 26, 2002, the 3rd operator (Telemar PCS – Oi), started to offer wireless services, but it’s to early to asses the impact they have had in our concession area. Tele Nordeste Celular was able to determine that since the beginning of Oi’s operations, they have only managed to obtain prepaid clients. As of June 30, 2002, Tele Nordeste Celular’s operating companies had 1,842,299 clients, of which 747,754 (40.6%) were post-paid clients and 1,094,545 (59.4%) were prepaid clients. Commercial activities during the second quarter of 2002 resulted in the consolidated gross addition of 146,786 clients, of which 118,218, or 80.5%, were prepaid and 28,568, or 19.5% were post-paid. Consolidated net additions during the second quarter of 2002 totaled 33,593 clients, all prepaid, as a result of the disconnection of 13,358 clients due to non-payment, with objective to reduce the company’s bad debt expense. Excluding theses users, the consolidated net additions for the quarter totaled 46,951 clients. Since the beginning of the year, consolidated gross addition were 293,629 clients, of which 239,074, or 81.4% were prepaid and 54,555, or 18.6% were post paid. Consolidated net additions during the first semester of 2002 were 84,639 clients, all prepaid. During the second quarter of 2002, bad debt was 3.5% of gross revenue, compared to 4.1% during the first quarter 2002, and 4.2% during the second quarter of 2001. In the first semester of 2002, bad debt was 3.8% of gross revenue, compared to 4.5% for the same period of 2001. The Corporate clients base has been continuously increasing, mostly due to the “Intelligent Network”, one of the most important tools used to promote this type of growth. The Intelligent Network is a new concept in mobile business communications. It is a service designed for companies that permits the creation of groups of users, promotes the improvement of the mobile communication and permits the control of generated and received calls. During the second quarter of 2002, we launched a Mother’s Day Promotion with special offers, offering low prices on handsets and special tariffs plans, retaining the customer for at least twelve months in the network. To keep investing in the creation of mechanisms that give our customer benefits and comfort, TIM SHOP was lunched as the first E-commerce site in the region. The TIM SHOP is one more point of contact between TIM and their customers, given its easy and fast access. The customer whose accesses TIM’s website: www.timnordeste.com.br can purchase all handsets models and choose between prepaid and post-paid systems by using a credit card. The handset will be delivered within 72 hours in the main cities and within five days in the country. As a way to further improve customer service through the Call Center, the company launched a Campaign called TIM Combate. This campaign involves client retention and those call center attendants that retain the most customers and achieve set goals win prizes. Also, during Korea/Japan World Cup, TIM Net.com provided news such as “behind the scenes” and facts about previous World Cups as well as statistics from the games. The site also provided


customers with the special sounds (Brazilian national anthem) and symbols that could be downloaded onto their handsets. Kit Timmy Gol was another offer made to the prepaid customer, composed of a handset with R$20 in credits. There were also advanced services offered such as Timmy Quarteto and complementary gifts (T-shirt) offered to fans of the Brazilian team. SAC The subscriber acquisition cost for the second quarter of 2002 was R$110, compared to R$107 during the first quarter of 2002, and R$143 during the second quarter of 2001. For the year, subscriber acquisition cost was R$109, versus the R$119 during the same period in 2001. Financial Highlights

Consolidated net operating revenue for the second quarter of 2002 reached R$218.5 million, compared to the R$214.3 million during the first quarter of 2002, and the R$201.8 million during the second quarter of 2001. Consolidated net operating revenue during the second quarter of 2002 increase by 2.0% when compared with the first quarter of 2002. This increase was principally due to the 73.9% increase in net revenues from handsets and accessories, as a reflection of the Mother Days Promotion. In relation to the second quarter of 2001, Consolidated net operating revenue increase 8.3%, as a result of the 9.6% increase of the telecom service net revenues. For the first half of the year, consolidated net operating revenue reached R$432.7 million, compared to the R$ 404.0 achieved during the same period of 2001. Net Operating Revenue Evolution (R$ millions)

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Selected Consolidated Financial Data (in thousands of Reais)

2002 2001 2nd Semester 2º Qtr. 1º Qtr. 2º Qtr. 2002 2001

Gross Revenue - Value added and other indirect taxes (64,910) (62,199) (51,730) (127,109) (107,030) Net Operating Revenue 218,469 214,274 201,755 432,743 404,015 Cost of services and of goods sold (89,929) (90,744) (86,359) (180,673) (174,898) Gross Profit 128,540 123,530 115,396 252,070 229,117

Consolidated gross profit for the second quarter of 2002 reached R$128.5 million, representing a 4.1% increase when compared to the first quarter of 2002 and an increase of 11.4% when compared with the second quarter of 2001. This increase is related to the first quarter of 2002 due to the 2.0% increase of consolidated net operating revenues, as well as a 1% decrease in cost of services and of goods sold. The increase of the second quarter of 2001 was primarily due to the 8.3% increase in consolidated net operating revenues, that is offset by the increase of 4.1% to the cost of services and of goods sold. For the first half of the year, gross profit reached R$252.1 million, representing an increase of 10% in relation the same period of 2001.

Selected Financial Data (in thousands of Reais)

2002 2001 2nd Semester

2º Qtr. 1º Qtr. 2º Qtr. 2002 2001 Operating Expenses - Selling 43,321 43,872 54,820 87,193 102,930 - General and administrative 22,303 24,360 23,179 46,663 47,953 - Other operating expenses, net 7,669 10,516 4,971 18,185 8,868 Subtotal 73,293 78,748 82,970 152,041 159,751 - Net financial expenses 7,662 1,670 10,329 9,332 27,443

Total 80,955 80,418 93,299 161,373 187,194

100

110

120

130

1Q/01 2Q/01 3Q/01 4Q/01 1Q/02 2Q/02

Gross Profit (in US$000)


During the second quarter of 2002, following the policy of strict cost controls and reduction of expenses, Tele Nordeste Celular and its operating companies kept searching for opportunities to improve productivity. Among the highlights this quarter were: the reduction of the number of own stores and the maintenance of low levels of the bad debt. Consolidated net operating expenses increased by 0.2% compared to the first quarter of 2002, due to an increase net financial expenses. Excluding net financial expenses, consolidated net operating expenses decreased by 6.9%. In relation to the second quarter of 2001, there was a 12.0% decrease, due to lower sales expenses, general and administrative and net financial expenses. Consolidated bad debt expenses during the second quarter of 2002 reached R$9.9 million, representing 3.5% over the gross revenue, and a reduction of 11.6% (from R$11.2 million to R$9.9 million) when compared to the first quarter of 2002. When compared to the second quarter of 2001, this represents a 6.8% decrease in bad debt expenses.

For the second quarter of 2002, Tele Nordeste Celular reported consolidated EBITDA and EBIT of R$106.7 million and R$55.2 million, respectively, representing an EBITDA margin of 48.8% and an EBIT margin of 25.3% over consolidated net revenue, compared to EBITDA of R$94.4 million and EBIT of R$44.8 million, representing an EBITDA margin of 44.1% and EBIT margin of 20.1% over consolidated net revenue reported for the first quarter of 2002, and compared to EBITDA of R$75.8 million and EBIT of R$32.4 million, representing an EBITDA margin of 37.6% and an EBIT margin of 16.1% over the consolidated net revenue reported for the second quarter of 2001. For the year, consolidated EBITDA and EBIT were R$201.1 million and R$100.0 million, respectively, representing an EBITDA margin of 45.5% and an EBIT margin of 23.1% over consolidated net revenue, compared to a consolidated EBITDA and EBIT of R$155.1 million and R$ 69.4 million, respectively, representing an EBITDA margin of 38.4% and an EBIT margin of 17.2%, during the same period of 2001.

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75

80

85

90

95

1Q/01 2Q/01 3Q/01 4Q/01 1Q/02 2Q/02

Net Operating Expenses ( in US$000)


Tele Nordeste Celular’s consolidated net income for the second quarter of 2002, was R$ 23.7 million, or R$0.07 per 1,000 shares, against the R$23.2 million during the first quarter of 2002, and R$12.9 million during the second quarter of 2001. Accumulated consolidated net income for the year 2002 was R$46.9 million, compared to R$23.0 million, during the same period of 2001. Amortization of Goodwill On June 30, 2000, Tele Nordeste Celular and its operating companies completed a restructuring process that resulted in the transfer of the premium paid during the privatization process from Bitel Participações S.A., the parent company of Tele Nordeste Celular, to each one of the operating companies. This restructuring was aimed at taking advantage of a fiscal benefit estimated at R$200 million over 8 years, through 2008, which will be incorporated into each operating company’s share capital. Tele Nordeste is awaiting anatel’s approval for a proposed merger of the operating companies. During the second quarter of 2002 the consolidated amortization of the premium, net of the reversal of the provision for the integrity of shareholders’ equity, was R$6.3 million, generating a fiscal benefit of the same value.

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100

150

1Q/01 2Q/01 3Q/01 4Q/01 1Q/02 2Q/02

EBITDA (in US$000)

01020304050

1Q/01 2Q/01 3Q/01 4Q/01 1Q/02 2Q/02

EBITDA (%)


Accumulated for the year, the consolidated amortization of the premium, net of the reversal of the provision for the integrity of shareholders’ equity, was R$12.6 million, generating a fiscal benefit of the same value. Payment of Dividends and Interest on Shareholders’ Equity Following the Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting of April 04, 2002, the Company announced onJune 3rd, 2002, the payment of Interest on Shareholders’ Equity and Dividends for the fiscal year ended December 31 2001, amounting to R$18.2 million, net of taxes.

The table below shows the amount per lot of 1,000 shares, adjusted by the “Taxa Referencial – TR – a local interest rate, since the distribution date (12/31/2001) until the payment date (06/03/2002): (Per lot of 1,000 shares)

Net Amount (In Reais) Tax Immune/Exempt Taxed

Event Common Preferred Common Preferred Interest on Own Capital – JSCP

0.0239

0.0239

0.0202

0.0202

Dividends 0.0342 0.0342 0.0341 0.0341 Debt Profile

Consolidated debt at June 30, 2002, was R$340.0 million, with R$57.6 million maturing in the short-term. The debt in foreign currency totaled R$131.9 million, of which R$169.8 million was totally converted to reais with pre-fixed costs, in-line with the Company’s policy of minimizing exposure to foreign currency risks and interest rate fluctuations. The net consolidated debt at June 30, 2002, was R$90.7 million, representing a reduction of 22.6%, when compared with the previous quarter. ARPU The blended average revenue per user (ARPU), net of taxes, for the second quarter of 2002 was R$38.4 per month, compared to R$39.5 per month in the first quarter of 2002, and R$41.4 per month for the second quarter of 2001. These reductions when compared to the last quarters of 2001, were due to the increase of prepaid clients to our customer base. In 2002, blocking is carried out on a partial basis, and as a result, only incoming traffic revenues are generated by these clients. The reduction of the ARPU during the second quarter, due to seasonal characteristic in the region resulted in lower traffic volume. In 2002, this was heightened due to the World Cup, which caused significant falls in traffic during the transmission of the matches. Capital Expenditures Tele Nordeste Celular and its operating companies invested R$14 million during the second quarter of 2002. These investments were mainly directed to improve the company's information system. Tele Nordeste also invested in improving its network, in order to offer client's the highest


level of service and to maintain Tele Nordeste Celular's and its operating companies leadership in terms of quality and coverage in its concession area. Total investments for the first half of the year totaled R$ 22.7 million. On June 30, 2002, the operating companies of Tele Nordeste Celular had 900 radio base stations (RBEs), of which 10 were mobile and provided service in 295 municipalities that corresponded to coverage of 74.5% of the population. Network digitalization reached 75.9%; that is, 75.9% of voice channels were digital, with 96% of its clients using digital handsets. Human Resources On June 30, 2002, Tele Nordeste Celular and operating companies had 1,236 employees including full-time and temporary employees. During the same period of 2001, the company had 21.3% more employees, or 1,570 employees. In terms of productivity (number of access per number of employees), Tele Nordeste Celular and its operating companies productivity increased 44.1% (from 1.035 in June 2001 to 1.491 in June 2002). Annexes: - Selected historical statistics - EBITDA calculation - Financial statements as of June 30, 2002 and 2001

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not statements of historical fact only reflect the beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” forecasts,” predicts,” “plans, ” “projects,” and similar words are intended to identify these statements, which necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, forecast or not by the Company. Accordingly, the actual results of operations of the Company may be different from the Company’s current expectations, and the reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments.


Consolidated Statistics

2nd Qtr/02 1st Qtr/02 2nd Qtr/01

Clients - Total 1,842,299 1,808,706 1,624,834 Net Additions 33,593 51,046 68,215 Market share (%) 64 65 65 Market share marginal (%) 58 75 55 Growth over same period of the previous year (%) 13.4 16.2 15.1 Estimated population of region (in millions) 29.5 29.5 26.4 Penetration rate (%) - Tele Nordeste 6.6 6.5 6.2 - Total 10.3 10.1 9.5 Municipalities covered 295 307 307 MOU total 108 118 132 Churn total (%) 6.2 5.4 4.3 Blended ARPU (R$) 38.37 39.50 41.42 SAC – Subscriber acquisition cost (R$) 110 107 143 Digitalization rate (%) - Network 76 75 74 - Clients 96 95 92 Coverage - Population 75 75 75 - Geographical area 29 29 29 Workforce 1,236 1,283 1,570

EBITDA (in thousands of Reais)

2Q02 1Q02 2Q01 2002 2001 Net Operational revenue 218,469 214,273 201,755 432,742 404,015 Operational income 47,585 43,110 22,097 90,695 41,923 Depreciation 45,167 43,306 37,118 88,473 73,111 Amortization of the goodwill 6,295 6,295 6,294 12,590 12,591 Financial income (11,340) (12,465) (8,385) (23,805) (12,886) Financial expenses 19,002 14,135 18,714 33,137 40,329 EBITDA 106,709 94,381 75,838 201,090 155,068 % EBITDA 48.8 44.1 37.6 46.5 38.4


Balance Sheet June 30, 2002 and 2001 (In thousands of Reais)

Parent Company Consolidated 06.30.2002 06.30.2001 06.30.2002 06.30.2001 Assets Curent assets Cash equivalents 1,584 2,091 249,692 98,015 Trade accounts receivable - - 144,070 103,952 Inventory 54 56 5,412 7,968 Telecommunications companies - - - 49,526 Taxes and contributions receivable 2,578 2,186 50,321 40,870 Deferred income and social contribution taxes 439 1,080 47,555 42,728 Dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity - - - - Other rights 1,403 1,221 15,707 21,345 6,058 6,634 512,757 364,404 Noncurrent assets Tax incentives - - 1,891 2,190 Deferred income and social contribution taxes - - 129,168 153,999 Loan to subsidiaries 4,872 12,509 - - Amounts in litigation 5,336 - 10,757 3,230 10,208 12,509 141,816 159,419 Permanent assets Investments 672,691 597,087 11,465 12,300 Property, plant and equipment 3,656 4,612 620,495 682,408 676,347 601,699 631,960 694,708 692,613 620,842 1,286,533 1,218,531


Balance Sheet June 30, 2002 and 2001 (In thousands of Reais)

Parent Company Consolidated 06.30.2002 06.30.2001 06.30.2002 06.30.2001 Liabilities Current liabilities Suppliers 367 844 44,691 36,302 Financing and loans - - 49,117 34,168 Debentures - - 8,482 7,764 Taxes payable 440 784 59,789 35,295 Salaries and vacation pay 2,929 2,304 7,187 5,821 Subsidiaries 17,919 2,973 - - Telecommunications companies - - - 14,470 Dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity 1,996 2,861 5,519 7,809 Other liabilities 3,812 12,237 20,392 25,998 27,463 22,003 195,177 167,627 Noncurrent liabilities Financing and loans - - 82,806 138,995 Debentures - - 200,000 200,000 Other liabilities 40 - 6,114 903 40 - 288,920 339,898 Minority interest - - 137,326 112,167 Shareholders’ equity Capital stock 288,443 186,054 288,443 186,054 Capital reserves - 193,083 - 193,083 Special reserves 165,754 - 165,754 - Profit reserves 118,511 170,405 118,511 170,405 Retained profits 92,402 49,297 92,402 49,297 665,110 598,839 665,110 598,839 692,613 620,842 1,286,533 1,218,531


Income Statement For the quarters ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 (In thousands of Reais)

Parent Company Consolidated Quarter

ended Semester

ended Quarter ended

Semester ended

Quarter ended

Semester ended

Quarter ended

Semester ended

06.30.2002 06.30.2002 06.30.2001 06.30.2001 06.30.2002 06.30.2002 06.30.2001 06.30.2001

Revenue Telecommunication services and sale of goods

-

-

-

-

283,379

559.852

253.485 511.045

Deductions (taxes and discounts)

-

-

-

-

(64,910)

(127.110)

(51.730) (107.030)

Net Revenue - - - - 218,469 432.742 201.755 404.015 Cost of good sold and services rendered

-

-

-

-

(89,928)

(180.672)

(86.359) (174.898)

Gross profit - - - - 128,541 252.070 115.396 229.117 Operating revenues (expenses) Selling expenses - - - - (43,321) (87,193) (54,820) (102,930)Administrative and general expenses (1,919) (3,903) (102) (4,440) (22,302) (46,662) (23,179) (47,953)Financial expenses (1,885) (2,505) (386) (475) (19,.003) (33,138) (18,714) (40,329)Financial income 143 314 27 111 11,340 23,805 8,385 12,886Equity in income of subsidiaries 25,895 50,673 12,915 28,304 (1,165) (2,719) - Other operating income 2,362 2,362 766 765 8,107 11,124 3.584 8,945Other operating expenses (94) (101) (77) (872) (15,777) (29,310) (8,555) (17,814) Operating income (loss) 24,502 46,840 13,143 23,393 46,420 87,977 22,097 41,922 Nonoperating income - 472 31 31 153 1,003 1,339 1,496Nonoperating expenses (1,488) (1,488) (35) (36) (1,880) (2,760) (2,527) (2,668) Income before income and social contribution taxes

23,014

45,824

13,139

23,388

44,693

86,220

20,909 40,750

Income and social contribution taxes

1,150

1,938

-

-

(12,591)

(22,656)

(3,913) (8,792)

Reversal of interest on shareholder’s equity Employees Interest

-

(500)

-

(850)

-

(244)

-

(433)

-

(996)

-

(1,788)

-

(602) (1,089) Net income before minority interest

23,664

46,912

12,895

22,955

31,106

61,776

16,394 30,869

Minority interest - - - - (7,442) (14,864) (3,499) (7,914) Net Income (loss) 23,664 46,912 12,895 22,955 23,664 46,912 12,895 22,955 Net income (loss) per lot of a thousand shares (R$)

0.0685

0.1358

0.0382

0.0680

Number of shares at June 30, 2002 (thousands)

345,739,620

345,739,620

337,768,635

337,768,635

press release 2 q02 tele nordeste celular en

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